How One Man's Amazing Christmas Lights Have Spread Joy for 30 Years

Every Christmas, Bruce Mertz brightens the holiday season by covering his house with more than 50,000 lights. He has obsessively added to his dazzling display for decades, creating beautiful, towering fixtures that people travel across the country to see. In this offbeat, heartwarming portrait by filmmaker Nick Palmer, we discover how a kid who grew up on a farm with no electricity became the magical “Mr. Christmas” so cherished by his community.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the world and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.

How One Man's Amazing Christmas Lights Have Spread Joy for 30 Years

Every Christmas, Bruce Mertz brightens the holiday season by covering his house with more than 50,000 lights. He has obsessively added to his dazzling display for decades, creating beautiful, towering fixtures that people travel across the country to see. In this offbeat, heartwarming portrait by filmmaker Nick Palmer, we discover how a kid who grew up on a farm with no electricity became the magical “Mr. Christmas” so cherished by his community.

The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the world and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.